How do the unique features of Polyimide PCBs make them beneficial for certain industrial applications?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: December 11, 2025
Polyimide PCBs

When it comes to PCBs, there are a whole lot of PCB materials that are used to make these PCBs depending of course upon the application and the environment in which it will be used. Some of the popular materials include:

  • Epoxy Resins
  • FR4
  • Polyimide
  • Teflon

What really is Polyimide?

Polyimide is a high-performing polymer, which is made up of imide monomers. Polyimide occurs naturally and can also be manufactured synthetically. Polyimides are broadly of three types:

  • Aliphatic
  • Semi-aromatic
  • Aromatic compounds

The most common way of production of polyimides is through a reaction between dianhydride and diamine.

Polyimides are known for their heat and electrical resistance as well as their high mechanical strength. They are ideal for use in flex and flex/rigid circuit boards.

Beneficial Features of Polyimide PCBs

Below are some features of polyimide that make them extremely useful in certain PCB applications:

Durability

On account of high resistance to physical stress, Polyimide PCBs are extremely durable. They retain their shapes even in extremely harsh environments.

Thermal Stability

Polyimide PCBs can withstand a wide range of temperatures. In fact they are known to support operations with temperatures up to 260℃.

The other advantage with them is that they can resist any thermal damage during production or repair.

Flexibility

Known for their extreme flexibility, they are suited for use in rigid-flex as well as flexible printed circuit boards.

Resistance to chemicals

Polyimides are also known for their chemical stability. If they are exposed to corrosive materials, they do not show any adverse effects. In applications where the PCBs are likely to be exposed to chemicals, Polyimide works best.

Tensile strength

Known for its tensile strength, polyimide PCBs can support high load without any fracture. Also, when it comes to warping, Polyimide PCBs are resilient. They are therefore widely used in applications where physical strength and durability are a must have.

Some of the other important features of Polyimide PCBs include:

  • They have an arc resistance of almost 143 seconds.
  • Ehen it comes to integration & mounting of components, it is far easier with Polyimide PCBs than FR4.
  • They act as natural adhesives and even at high temperatures are know for their bond strength.
  • They are known for their tight tolerances.
  • They can be made moisture resistant using oligomeric dianiline.
  • They have a specific gravity of up to 1.6 g/cm cube.
  • At 1GHz, they have a dielectric constant of 4.2.

Difference between Polyimide PCB & FR4 PCB

Some of the differences between Polyimide & FR4 PCBs include:

  • While Polyimide PCBs are highly resistant to chemicals, FR4 PCBs are moderately resistant.
  • The tensile strength of Polyamide PCBs is 231MPa, that of FR4 PCBs is 70 MPa.
  • Polyimide PCBs show higher thermal cycling than FR4.
  • In terms of durability, Polyimide PCBs are far more durable than FR4 ones
  • Polyimide PCBs can operate in temperature ranges of -200 to 300 degrees Centigrade. The corresponding range for FR4 PCBs is -50 to 110 degree Centigrade.
  • Polyimide PCBs have a Glass Transient Temperature range of 195 to 220 degrees centigrade. For FR4 PCBs it is 135 degrees Centigrade.

Polyimide PCB Applications

Little surprise then that Polyimide PCBs are used in a wide variety of PCB industrial solutions, including but not limited to:

Medical Industry

Polyimide PCBs find application in:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging equipment
  • Ultrasound equipment
  • Flex and rigid-flex interconnects for sensitive equipment

Industrial Equipment

  • Power inverters
  • Motor Controllers

Automotive Industry

  • Engine management systems
  • Antilock braking systems
  • ADAS vehicle systems

Telecommunication Equipment

  • Phone switching systems
  • Cell towers

Military Applications and Aerospace Industry

  • Power distribution systems
  • Communication and Defense navigation systems
  • Electronic flight instrumentation systems
  • Digitized signal and microwave processing systems

Consumer Products

  • Televisions
  • Consoles for video games

Telecommunication Equipment

  • Phone switching systems
  • Cell towers

To Sum Up

Polyimide PCBs work as a very good alternative to FR4 printed circuit boards on account of the features that Polyimide PCBs offer. These mainly include flexibility, thermal resistance, quality and reliability.

It is important, however, to use your PCB partner with care as they can offer a wide variety of customized PCBs that suit your industry and their bespoke requirements.

At Technotronix, we combine state-of-the-art technology with our advanced engineering to offer you the highest quality PCB manufacturing services. With over four decades of experience in delivering high quality, on-time, price-competitive products, you can rely on us for your PCB requirements. Also, you can drop an email to [email protected] or give us a call at 714/630-9200 to solve your queries or to get a quote.

What is BGA Reballing? Why does Ball Grid Array require Reballing?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: December 11, 2025
BGA Reballing

What is BGA Reballing?

BGA Reballing refers to changing every soldered ball on a grid array circuit. Essentially, a ball grid array circuit is established to make an accurate connection between the PCB & the chip. Very often, it will involve extracting old solder balls and replacing them with new ones.

To offer an example, Video Graphic Chips or VGCs as they are popularly known as, are particularly prone to solder joint breakage and need reballing. Every so often, you would have encountered a situation where your computer screen goes blank. This is often a result of poor solder joints and needs BGA reballing.

Why is BGA reballing needed?

There are several reasons that necessitate BGA reballing. Let us look at them in detail:

  • Overuse – The overuse of a graphics chip can often lead to reballing. With time, the solder joints between the PCB and the chip become loose and this could lead to issues that could progressively worsen.
  • Faulty Chips – When BGA chips become faulty, there is the need to replace them. Also, sometimes a PCB motherboard may require a chip upgrade to deal with new software.
  • Overheating – Overheating can also lead to the need for the BGA chip to be reballed. On account of the heat the ball loosens and can even be dislocated. Overheating can also result in the formation of a solder bridge that can prove to be fatal to your PCB equipment.

BGA Reballing Process

In order to effectively undertake the reballing process and for it to succeed, you need adequate experience and expertise and the right tools. Let us look at some of the tools that are needed for reballing:

Soldering Iron

A soldering iron is a hand-based tool that sends heat to the solder metal. Its melting can optimize flow into the broken joints between the component and the BGA PCB assembly. It is important for the soldering iron to have a heated metal tip as well as a well-insulated handle.

Desoldering Wire

A desoldering wire is required to solder wick or to desolder it. It is beneficial to remove the solder from the joint by soaking the metal solder in it. It is usually braided with 18 to 42 AWG copper wire that is insulated with leading-edge rosin flux.

Chip Stencil

A chip stencil is essentially a metal sheet with holes that allows solder balls to be fitted. Made of high-quality steel, you can heat it with the BGA machine or a hot air gun. It ensures that the ball soldering process is quick and hassle free.

Solder Balls

As the name suggests, these are small balls of solder strewn on the SMT board surface. Essentially, they offer a point of contact between the multichip modules and the stacked packages, as also between the PCB and chip package.

BGA Reworking Machine

It generates copious amounts of heat and is required to finalize the BGA reballing process. It also comes in handy to remove or attach BGA chips.

Steps in the BGA Reballing Process

The essential steps in BGA Reballing include:

  • Preparing the BGAs. This involves removing existing components and ensuring the surface is clean.
  • Securing the units.
  • Introducing the stencil to match the space and sizing of your BGA.
  • Securing the stencil by screwing a ring on top.
  • Shaking in solder balls.
  • Reflow soldering with a reflow oven that offers temperature control.
  • Post process inspection to see that the balls are secure and in proper place.

Choosing the right services for BGA reballing

It is imperative to choose the right PCB services when it comes to BGA component reballing as there is almost no margin for any error. You need to work with a company that has the right experience and expertise to offer accurate, high-quality work. You need to look for high yield, cost-effective BGA reballing services. The right company will be able to offer you the ability to reball BGA devices of every size, pitch and package style. From low volume to high volume BGA re-balling, the partner should be able to meet all your requirements.

The other aspect to look for is the ability of the company to offer robust customer support and to handhold you through state-of-the-art solutions.

Technotronix offers professional PCB assembly services with 40 years of expertise. Our accurate PCB assembly process meets the quality standards, including ISO-9001:2015, RoHS, and more. Our superior engineering capabilities mean that each board matches your exact requirements and technical specifications. If you have any questions or any requirements related to PCB assembly service, please feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] or call 714/630-9200.

What is the importance of PCB trace width in PCB design?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: December 11, 2025
PCB Trace Width

Before we understand the importance of trace widths in PCB board design, let us start with the basics and understand what exactly is a trace width.

Essentially a PCB trace connects electrical signals from one junction to another. The junction can be the pin of a component, an empty pad or test-point. A trace width is measured in mils or thousandth of an inch. Typically, a standard trace width is between 7-12 mil and could be a few inches long.

For boards where there is a specific design requirement such as noise mitigation, speed optimization and more, trace widths and types assume a significant advantage.

PCB fabrication costs are driven up with the following trace-related specifications:

  • Trace widths narrower than 5 mils.
  • Trace spacing closer than 5 mils.
  • Via holes with a diameter smaller than 8 mils.
  • Trace thickness thinner or thicker than 1 ounce.
  • Differential pairs and controlled lengths or trace impedance.

High-density PCB designs might require trace widths as thin as 2.5 mil. On the other hand, some high-power designs might require very large traces. Designs that call for high-speed communication from one peripheral to another might need traces with controlled impedance. Similarly, high voltage applications need a minimum distance between two exposed differential signals.

Role played by PCB trace widths in layout

Trace widths impact the electrical performance of the printed circuit board, both in terms of:

  • Signal Integrity
  • Power Integrity

Signal integrity

Using different trace widths can go a long way in improving signal integrity and to keep signal interference, crosstalk, electromagnetic interference etc under control.

Controlled impedance routing

When it comes to certain high-speed signals, they need to be routed at specific widths so that there is impedance control. The trace widths must be correctly figured out based on:

  • Dielectric material of the board.
  • Spacing to other signals.
  • Copper weight.

Microstrip and stripline

In case of sensitive high-speed transmission lines you need to couple them with a reference ground plane so that the traces are shielded. A stripline configuration refers to an internal routing layer that is sandwiched between two ground planes. A microstrip configuration on the other hand refers to traces on the board’s exterior with adjacent plane beneath it.

Analog routing

When it comes to analog signals, they need to be short and direct while having extra width to keep trace impedance low. With analog circuitry, it is also better to minimize the use of vias.

Power integrity

To ensure power integrity it is important to look at the following aspects:

Short and direct routing

It is important to keep the traces short to avoid additional noise. Rounded corners as opposed to right angles are also preferred.

Use wide traces

To reduce inductance and crosstalk it is prudent to use wide traces with power routing.

Current and thermal consideration

Power traces conduct various current levels depending on which net is being routed. Also, it is important to consider the amount of heat the lines generate with the current. The power tracing on the external layers can also benefit from air-cooling.

Using Optimum PCB Trace Width

Several PCB CAD tools can today control multiple trace widths. PCB layout engineers can set up a trace width value. Individual nets, however, can be controlled by specifying the width and the spacing for each. With CAD tools there is also the ability to set up classes of nets. Certain CAD systems also offer the ability to set up different rules for specific areas. When you are routing through dense areas this can be extremely helpful.

Essentially while there are several different ways in which you can set up your PCB CAD system for trace routing, what you need is strong electronics contract manufacturer. You need to ensure that your CM has a strong engineering team, which has the requisite knowledge and experience to be able to set up the PCB CAD systems and design a successful circuit board. The CM should not just understand the nuances of trace widths but also the right usage of tools to ensure that The PCB lives up to the highest standards of quality.

We have over 4 decades of experience in providing innovative high-speed PCB design & manufacturing services. We take an extra step to reach out to your exact PCB manufacturing requirements, high-quality standards, and a strong customer support service to provide quick turnarounds and on-time delivery to our customers. Submit your any custom printed circuit board design service requirements via PCB design quote form along with BOM (Bill of Material) & Gerber files and we will get back to you soon. You can contact us via email at [email protected] or call us on 714/630-9200.

The bill of materials in PCB design: The best practices for long-term production!

By | Date posted: | Last updated: March 18, 2026
Bill of Materials PCB

Designing a new circuit board needs meticulous planning for sure. When you are designing for long term production you need to have specific and detailed strategies in place so that you can avoid any component shortages. Here are some specific supply chain problems that have been staring at the industry particularly in today’s times:

Short supply

With the global pandemic, component short supplies have been a reality. With inventories at OEMs dropping, designers are forced to look for alternative parts. The supply chain shortage is also impacted by the global shipping problems. Vendors are unable to reach supplies to customers on account of inaccessibility to the regular shipping channels.

Counterfeit parts

A number of counterfeit parts have also flooded the market. There have been instances of substituting false part numbers whereby general parts are repurposed. There are also instances of old parts being sold as new. It is imperative, therefore, for OEMs to be able to recognize old, counterfeit parts.

In such a scenario Bill of Material (BOM) planning strategies are absolutely important. Let us look at some of the PCB Design BOM planning strategies in detail

PCB design BOM planning strategies:

Check for part availability as well as prices

Before committing to use any parts you certainly need to find out if they are available and their price. It is a possibility that they may have become too expensive. You also need to validate the sources so that you are sure that you do not land up with counterfeit components.

Check for alternative options

In case the parts that you are looking for are unavailable, here are some of the alternatives to consider:

  • Alternative Parts – You need to look for parts that can offer similar functionality. It may be a good idea to also look for combinations of parts that can offer similar functionality. This of course could have a cost implication. However, it will keep your project on track.
  • Redesign – In some cases in order to tackle the issue of the unavailable part, you may need to redesign the circuitry. You also need to look at alternatives where you design the primary component and its alternatives into the board.
  • Forward planning- Above everything, you need to make sure that you time yourself well. Waiting till the end of the design cycle and then beginning to look for parts that you need and finding them to be unavailable, is a sure fire way to disaster. You need to start planning early in a way that you can map the completion of your design schedule with availability of components. There are electronic component specialists that can help with BOM planning.

Having discussed BOM planning strategies, let us also look at some BOM planning resources that can come in handy

BOM Planning Resources

One resource that will stand you in good stead, is of course your contract manufacturer. Ensure that your electronics contract manufacturer has a dedicated engineering as well as procurement team that ensure that you do not fall short by way of unavailability of components. The contract manufacturer will undertake a detailed review of the BOM. They will ensure that the parts mentioned in the BOM work well and are available for use. A strong procurement team will then ensure that the lead times and prices are optimal.

This is not the only way the contract manufacturer can come to your aid. Importantly, a professional contract manufacturer will also review your PCB board design to see that there aren’t any issues that can later affect the manufacturing process. Timely detection of these issues will help prevent costly mistakes. They will also suggest alternate designs that will aid in manufacturability. With their experience and access to industry best practices, you need not reinvent the wheel.

Importantly, if you as a customer work with the contract manufacturer on long-term builds of circuit boards, they will monitor availability of components on a continuous basis. At any time if any part becomes obsolete, the team will have its recommendations ready proactively. This will ensure that your production isn’t impacted and that time to market, which is a big source of competitive advantage in today’s milieu, isn’t impacted.

Technotronix is one of the leading PCB manufacturers based in the USA. We have over 4 decades of experience in providing innovative PCB manufacturing services using modern technologies and the latest machinery. For any kind of PCB manufacturing services, Get a quick quote!